Image forming apparatus and authentication method

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus comprises a wireless communication section, a terminal authentication section and a login processing section. The wireless communication section wirelessly communicates with a terminal device of a user. The terminal authentication section authenticates the terminal device requesting a connection with the image forming apparatus. The login processing section processes the login of the user according to the authentication on the terminal device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 14/982,485filed on Dec. 29, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image formingapparatus and an authentication method.

BACKGROUND

In the past, for the reason of safety, a MFP (Multifunction Peripheral)is generally allowed to be used by a user who logs into the MFP. Forexample, the MFP authenticates a user through collating the informationstored in an IC card held by the user with a password input by the user.In a case of authenticating a user through a storage medium such as anIC card, the MFP needs to be provided with an IC card reader or a likedevice for reading out information from the storage medium. Thearrangement of such a device in the MFP leads to a rise in the cost ofthe MFP. Further, in a case of being authenticated based on an inputpassword, a user needs to input a password for the use of the MFP. Thisoperation is troublesome for the user and has a risk of leaking thepassword.

Thus, it is desired to develop an MFP which is capable of relieving theworkload of the user while not increased in cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system structure diagram exemplifying the schematicstructure of an MFP system 1 according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the functionalstructure of a user terminal 2 according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an external view exemplifying the overall structure of animage processing apparatus 3 according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram exemplifying the functionalstructure of the image processing apparatus 3;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating the structure of acontrol section 70 for controlling the login of a user;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of settinginformation;

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of a processingrelating to the login of a user to the image processing apparatus 3according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of a processingrelating to the login of a user to an image processing apparatus 3according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a first errorprocessing;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a confirmationinformation display screen displayed on the image processing apparatus3;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a second errorprocessing; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a third errorprocessing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises awireless communication section, a terminal authentication section and alogin processing section. The wireless communication section wirelesslycommunicates with a terminal device of the user of the image formingapparatus. The terminal authentication section authenticates theterminal device requested to be connected with the image formingapparatus. The login processing section processes the login of the useraccording to the authentication on the terminal device.

The image forming apparatus and the authentication method of theembodiment are described below with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system structure diagram exemplifying the schematicstructure of an MFP system 1 according to the embodiment. The MFP system1 comprises a user terminal 2 and an image processing apparatus 3. Theuser terminal 2 is a terminal which is operated by the user to log intothe image processing apparatus 3. The user terminal 2 is, for example, aportable terminal such as a mobile phone, a smart phone and a tabletpersonal computer. An application which is used by the user to log intothe image processing apparatus 3 is installed in the user terminal 2 inadvance. The application is hereinafter referred to as a login APP. Theimage processing apparatus 3 is an image forming apparatus, for example,an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral). The image processing apparatus 3 canprovide the user the various functions of an image forming apparatus,such as a copy function, a print function and a scan function. The userterminal 2 and the image processing apparatus 3 can wirelesslycommunicate with each other via a Bluetooth (Registered Trademark).

The user of the MFP system 1 operates the user terminal 2 to start thelogin APP. By starting the login APP, the user terminal 2 requests theuser to log into the image processing apparatus 3 with which the userterminal 2 can wirelessly communicate. The image processing apparatus 3carries out a processing of authenticating the user who requests login.

If it is determined through the authentication processing that the useris a right user who requests login, the image processing apparatus 3carries out a login processing for the user. The image processingapparatus 3 only allows a right user to log into the image processingapparatus 3 through the authentication processing.

One user terminal 2 and one image processing apparatus 3 are shown inFIG. 1; however, a plurality of user terminals 2 may request login tothe image forming apparatus 3. Further, the wireless communicationbetween the user terminal 2 and the image processing apparatus 3 mayalso be realized via another communication module different fromBluetooth (Registered Trademark).

Conventionally, such an authentication processing is carried outaccording to a user ID and a password input by the user. In such anauthentication method, the user needs to input the user ID and thepassword every time the user logs into the image processing apparatus 3,resulting in a heavy workload. Through the wireless communicationbetween the image processing apparatus 3 and the user terminal 2, theMFP system 1 is achieved which can be used through a simpler loginoperation. Next, the MFP system 1 of the embodiment is described belowin detail.

FIG. 2 is a function block diagram illustrating the functional structureof the user terminal 2 according to the embodiment. The user terminal 2which includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory and anauxiliary storage device that are connected with each other via a busline executes a user terminal program. By executing the user terminalprogram, the user terminal 2 functions as an apparatus provided with awireless communication section 21, an input section 22, a displaysection 23, a storage section 24 and a control section 25. Further, thefunctions of the user terminal 2 can be totally or partially realizedusing hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific IntegratedCircuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) and a FPGA (FieldProgrammable Gate Array). The user terminal program may be recorded in acomputer-readable recording medium which refers to, for example, amovable medium such as a floppy disk, a magneto-optic disk, a ROM and aCD-ROM or a storage device such as a hard disk, which is built in acomputer system. The user terminal program may be sent through anelectrical communication line.

The wireless communication section 21 is a communication interface usedby the user terminal 2 to wirelessly communicate with the imageprocessing apparatus 3. In the present embodiment, the wirelesscommunication section 21 is a communication interface for realizingwireless communication based on the Bluetooth (Registered Trademark).

The input section 22 consists of an input device such as a keyboard, atouch panel and the like.

The display section 23 consists of a display device such as a CRT(Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display, an EL(Electro-Luminescence) display and the like.

The storage section 24 consists of a storage device such as a magnetichard disk device, a semiconductor storage device and the like. The loginAPP and the various setting information needed by the login APP tooperate are stored in the storage section 24 in advance.

The control section 25 is a functional section for controlling theoperations of the user terminal 2. For example, the control section 25reads out the login APP from the storage section 24 and executes thelogin APP according to an operation of the user. By executing the loginAPP, the control section 25 requests the user to log into the imageprocessing apparatus 3 with which the user terminal 2 can wirelesslycommunicate.

FIG. 3 is an external view exemplifying the overall structure of theimage processing apparatus 3 according to the embodiment. The imageprocessing apparatus 3 comprises a display 10, a control panel 20, aprinter section 30, a sheet accommodation section 40 and an imagereading section 50. The printer section 30 of the image processingapparatus 3 may be a toner image fixing device or an inkjet device.

The image processing apparatus 3 reads the image presented on a sheetand generates digital data, thereby generating an image file. The sheetis, for example, an original document or a sheet on which characters andan image is recorded. The sheet can be any sheet that is readable to theimage processing apparatus 3.

The display section 10 is an image display device such as a liquidcrystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display and thelike. The display section 10 displays various kinds of informationrelating to the image processing apparatus 3.

The control panel 20 comprises a plurality of buttons. The control panel20 receives the operation of the user. The control panel 20 outputs asignal corresponding to an operation carried out by the user to thecontrol section of the image processing apparatus 3. Further, thedisplay 10 and the control panel 20 may be integrated into a touchpanel. The printer section 30 forms an image on a sheet according toimage information generated by the image reading section 50 or the imageinformation received via a communication path. The printer section 30forms an image by, for example, carrying out the following processing:the image forming section of the printer section 30 forms anelectrostatic latent image on a photoconductive drum according to theimage information. The image forming section of the printer section 30forms a visible image by making a developing agent adhere to theelectrostatic latent image. The developing agent is, for example, atoner. The transfer section of the printer section 30 transfers thevisible image onto a sheet. The fixing section of the printer section 30heats and presses the sheet to fix the visible sheet on the sheet.Further, the sheet on which the image is formed may be a sheetaccommodated in the sheet accommodation section 40 or a manually fedsheet.

The image information used in an image formation processing may be theimage information generated by the image reading section 20 or the imageinformation received via a communication path. The image informationused in an image formation processing may further be the imageinformation read from a recording medium.

The sheet accommodation section 40 accommodates a sheet which is usedfor the formation of an image in the printer section 30. The sheet usedfor the formation of an image is, for example, a paper or a label paper.The sheet used for the formation of an image can be any sheet with asurface on which an image can be formed.

The image reading section 50 reads the image information of a readobject as light intensity. The image reading section 50 records the readimage information. The recorded image information may be sent to anotherinformation processing apparatus via a network. The recorded imageinformation may be formed by the printer section 30 into an image on asheet.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram exemplifying the functionalstructure of the image processing apparatus 3. The image processingapparatus 3 which comprises a CPU 31, a memory 32, an auxiliary storagedevice 33 and a communication section 34 that are connected with eachother via a bus line carries out an image processing apparatus program.For example, the image processing apparatus program is stored in theauxiliary storage device 33. By executing the image processing apparatusprogram, the image processing apparatus 3 functions as an apparatusprovided with the display 10, the control panel 20, the printer section30, the sheet accommodation section 40, the image reading section 50, awireless communication section 60 and a control section 70. Further, thefunctions of the image processing apparatus 3 can be totally orpartially realized using hardware such as an ASIC, a PLD and an FPGA.The image processing apparatus program may be recorded in acomputer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recordingmedium refers to, for example, a movable medium such as a flexible disk,a magneto-optic disk, a ROM and a CD-ROM or a storage device such as ahard disk, which is built in a computer system. The image processingapparatus program may be sent through an electrical communication line.

The display 10, the control panel 20, the printer section 30, the sheetaccommodation section 40 and the image reading section 50 are thoseshown in FIG. 3.

The wireless communication section 60 is a communication interface usedby the image processing apparatus 3 to wirelessly communicate with theuser terminal 2. In the present embodiment, the wireless communicationsection 60 is a communication interface for realizing wirelesscommunication based on Bluetooth (Registered Trademark).

The control section 70 is a functional section controlling theoperations of the image processing apparatus 3. For example, the controlsection 70 comprises a connection control section 71 and a loginprocessing section 72.

Provided with the connection control section 71 and the login processingsection 72, the control section 70 is capable of controlling the loginof the user to the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating the structure of thecontrol section 70 for controlling the login of a user. The connectioncontrol section 71 controls the connection with the user terminal 2 thatrequests the user to log into the image processing apparatus. Typically,in Bluetooth (Registered Trademark), a previous connection permissionsetting which is called ‘pairing’ is required in machines whichwirelessly communicate with each other. Through the pairing,registration information indicating the machines permitted to beconnected with the image processing apparatus is generated in eachmachine. For example, information such as a Bluetooth (RegisteredTrademark) address and a Friendly Name is contained in the registrationinformation. The connection permission setting is preset between theimage processing apparatus 3 and the user terminal 2, and theregistration information is stored in the auxiliary storage device 33 inadvance. The connection control section 71 determines, according to theregistration information of the image processing apparatus, whether ornot the user terminal 2 serving as a connection source is a terminalpermitted to be connected with the image processing apparatus. That is,the connection control section 71 authenticates, according to theregistration information, the user terminal 2 that requests a user tolog into the image processing apparatus. By authenticating such a userterminal 2 in this way, the connection control section 71 only permitsthe user terminal 2 which is permitted to be connected with the imageprocessing apparatus in advance to be connected with the imageprocessing apparatus.

The login processing section 72 carries out a login processing for theuser of a user terminal 2 authenticated by the connection controlsection 71. By carrying out the login processing, the image processingapparatus 3 becomes usable to the user. For example, the loginprocessing section 72 reads out setting information of each userpre-registered in the image processing apparatus to provide acorresponding service environment for each user. For example, thesetting information is stored in the auxiliary storage device 33 of theimage processing apparatus 3 in advance. The setting information can beproperly changed by the manager or user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the settinginformation. For example, the setting information is stored in theauxiliary storage device 33 as a setting information table 331exemplarily shown in FIG. 6. The setting information record of each userID is stored in the setting information table 331. For example, thesetting information record consists of a user ID, a terminal ID and thevarious values of a basic setting. The user ID is the identificationinformation of the user of the image processing apparatus 3. Theterminal ID is the identification information of the user terminal 2which is used by the user represented by the user ID to log into theimage processing apparatus 3. The terminal ID may be any informationthat can identify the user terminal 2, for example, the Bluetooth(Registered Trademark) address or Friendly Name contained in theregistration information or a MAC (Media Access Control) address. Thebasis setting indicates a basic setting of the image processingapparatus 3 used by the user represented by the user ID. For example,the setting on print color, the setting on printed surface and thesetting on aggregation are included in the basic setting. By readingsuch a basic setting of a user logging into the image processingapparatus, the image processing apparatus 3 provides a correspondingservice environment for the user logging into the image processingapparatus.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are sequence diagrams illustrating the flow of aprocessing relating to the login of a user to the image processingapparatus 3 according to the embodiment. Further, the login APP runs inthe user terminal 2 in a case where the sequence shown in FIG. 7 andFIG. 8 is started. In this case, the user moves the user terminal 2 to aposition where the user terminal 2 can wirelessly communicate with theimage processing apparatus 3 to start the processing of the presentsequence. The control section 25 of the user terminal 2 retrievesBluetooth (Registered Trademark) terminals around the user terminal 2 ata specific timing through the login APP which is being executed. Thecontrol section 25 detects an image processing apparatus 3 with whichthe user terminal 2 can wirelessly communicate. The control section 25requests the user to log into the detected image processing apparatus 3.Specifically, by attempting to connect the image processing apparatus 3wirelessly, the control section 25 requests the user to log into theimage processing apparatus 3.

The control section 25 sends a connection request to the imageprocessing apparatus 3 (Act 101). The image processing apparatus 3receives the connection request sent from the user terminal 2 (Act 102).The image processing apparatus 3 authenticates the user terminal 2 fromwhich the connection request is sent. Specifically, the connectioncontrol section 71 determines whether or not the user terminal 2 fromwhich the connection request is sent is already registered in the imageprocessing apparatus 3 (Act 103).

For example, in Act 101, the control section 25 of the user terminal 2sends a connection request containing the identification information ofthe user terminal 2 to the image processing apparatus 3. The connectioncontrol section 71 acquires the identification information of the userterminal 2 from which the connection request is sent from the connectionrequest received in Act 102. The connection control section 71determines whether or not the user terminal 2 is already registered inthe image processing apparatus 3 by determining whether or not theacquired identification information is included in the registrationinformation of the image processing apparatus. If the user terminal 2 isnot registered in the image processing apparatus 3 yet (Act 103: No),the connection control section 71 carries out a first error processing(Act 104). The first error processing is a processing carried out tonotify the user that the user terminal 2 is not registered in the imageprocessing apparatus 3 yet.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the first errorprocessing. For example, the connection control section 71 may displaythe error information shown in FIG. 9 on the display 10 to notify theuser that the user terminal 2 is not registered in the image processingapparatus 3 yet. Apart from displaying error information in this way,the connection control section 71 may send the error information to theuser terminal 2 to notify the user that the user terminal 2 is notregistered yet.

Return to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, on the other hand, if the user terminal 2is already registered in the image processing apparatus 3 (Act 103:Yes), the connection control section 71 notifies the user terminal 2that the user terminal 2 is permitted to be connected with the imageprocessing apparatus (Act 105). Further, the connection control sectionnotifies the login registration section 72 of the identificationinformation of the user terminal 2 permitted to be connected with theimage processing apparatus 3. The login registration section 72generates confirmation information for the user of the user terminal 2to confirm the intention of login (Act 106). The intention confirmationis carried out in consideration of a possibility that the terminal 2used by the user who has no intention for login communicates with theimage processing apparatus 3 wirelessly. Thus, the confirmationinformation is generated as information which is only valid in aspecific period of validity. The login processing section 72 enables thedisplay 10 to display the generated confirmation information (Act 107).

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a confirmationinformation display screen displayed on the image processing apparatus3. For example, the image processing apparatus 3 enables the display 10to display a screen for prompting the user to input confirmationinformation indicated by the four numbers shown in FIG. 10.

The user visually confirms the confirmation information displayed on thedisplay 10. In this case, a confirmation information input screen isdisplayed on the display section 23 of the user terminal 2 based on aconnection permission notice. The user inputs the confirmationinformation displayed on the display 10 on the input screen displayed onthe user terminal 2. Further, as stated above, the confirmationinformation is information which is only valid in a specific period ofvalidity. Thus, to log into the image processing apparatus 3, the userneeds to input the confirmation information displayed on the display 10within the period of validity.

Return to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the input section 21 of the user terminal 2receives the input of the confirmation information by the user (Act108). The control section 25 sends the confirmation information input bythe user to the image processing apparatus 3 as response information toa confirmation information notice (Act 109).

The image processing apparatus 3 receives the response information sentfrom the user terminal 2 (Act 110). The login processing section 72 ofthe image processing apparatus 3 determines whether or not responseinformation is received (Act 111). If no response information isreceived (Act 111: No), the login processing section 72 determineswhether or not the current moment is within the period of validity (Act112). If the current moment is within the period of validity (Act 112:Yes), the login processing section 72 returns to Act 111 to repeat toconfirm whether or not response information is received.

On the other hand, if the current moment is beyond the period ofvalidity (Act 112: No), the login processing section 72 carries out asecond error processing (Act 113). The second error processing is aprocessing carried out to notify the user that the input of theconfirmation information is not carried out within the specific periodof validity (time-out).

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the second errorprocessing. For example, the login processing section 72 may enable thedisplay 10 to display the error information shown in FIG. 11 to notifythe user of the time-out of the input of confirmation information. Apartfrom displaying the error information in this way, the login processingsection 72 may send error information to the user terminal 2 to notifythe user of the time-out of the input of confirmation information.

Return to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, on the other hand, if the responseinformation is received in Act 111 (Act 111: Yes), the login processingsection 72 determines whether or not the current moment is within theperiod of validity (Act 114). If the current moment is beyond the periodof validity (Act 114: No), the login processing section 72 proceeds toAct 113 to carry out the second error processing. On the other hand, ifthe current moment is within the period of validity (Act 114: Yes), thelogin processing section 72 determines whether or not the receivedresponse information is the same as the confirmation information (Act115).

If the received response information is not the same as the confirmationinformation (Act 115: No), the login processing section 72 carries out athird error processing (Act 116). The third error processing is aprocessing carried out to notify the user that the input confirmationinformation is not accurate.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the third errorprocessing. For example, the login processing section 72 may enable thedisplay 10 to display the error information shown in FIG. 12 to notifythe user that the input confirmation information is not accurate. Apartfrom displaying the error information in this way, the login processingsection 72 may send the error information to the user terminal 2 tonotify the user that the input confirmation information is not accurate.

Return to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, on the other hand, if the received responseinformation in Act 115 is the same as the confirmation information (Act115: Yes), the login processing section 72 carries out a loginprocessing for the user of the user terminal 2 (Act 117).

The image processing apparatus 3 of the embodiment with the foregoingstructure carries out a login processing for the user of the userterminal 2 at the moment the user terminal can wirelessly communicatewith the image forming apparatus. With this function, the imageprocessing apparatus 3 can relieve the workload of the user who uses it.For example, the input of a user ID and a password necessary for usingthe image processing apparatus 3 in the past can be saved. Further, theuser can log into the image processing apparatus 3 merely by inputtingconfirmation information which is simpler than the input of a user IDand a password.

On the other hand, the communication between the user terminal 2 and theimage processing apparatus 3 is carried out through Bluetooth(Registered Trademark) in the present embodiment. Generally, the imageprocessing apparatus 3 can be provided with a Bluetooth (RegisteredTrademark) interface which is cheaper than an IC card reader. Thus, asstated above, if the image processing apparatus 3 is structured, then animage forming apparatus can be provided which is capable of relievingthe workload of the user while not increased in cost.

Next, variations of the image processing apparatus 3 of the presentembodiment are described below.

It is not necessary for the image processing apparatus 3 to carry outthe intention confirmation of the login of the user based onconfirmation information. The image processing apparatus 3 may carry outa login processing for the user of the user terminal 2 capable ofwirelessly communicating with the image processing apparatus withoutrequesting the user to input confirmation information. By saving theintention confirmation on login based on confirmation information, theimage processing apparatus 3 with the foregoing structure is simpler forthe user to log into. For example, the image processing apparatus 3identifies, according to the radio wave intensity of the user terminal2, the user terminal 2 of the user desiring to log into the imageprocessing apparatus. For example, the image processing apparatus 3 maydetermine the user terminal 2 sending the strongest radio wave intensityas the user terminal 2 of the user desiring to log into the imageprocessing apparatus. For example, the image processing apparatus 3 maydetermine the user terminal 2 which sends radio wave intensity above aspecific threshold value as the user terminal 2 of the user desiring tolog into the image processing apparatus. Further, the image processingapparatus 3 may determine the user terminal 2 which keeps sending radiowave intensity above a specific threshold value for more than a specifictime as the user terminal 2 of the user desiring to log into the imageprocessing apparatus. Further, in a case where there is a plurality ofusers serving as the object of a login processing at the same time, theimage processing apparatus 3 may display the users on the display 10 andselect one of the users as the object of the login processing.

Further, the image processing apparatus 3 may set, separately for eachuser, whether or not to carry out an intention confirmation based onconfirmation information. For example, in this case, the imageprocessing apparatus 3 sets whether or not to carry out an intentionconfirmation based on confirmation information in advance for each userID registered in the setting information. The login processing section72 generates confirmation information for the user logging into theimage processing apparatus as required.

The confirmation information is not necessarily displayed on the imageprocessing apparatus 3. Likewise, the confirmation information is notnecessarily input in the user terminal 2. For example, the confirmationinformation may be sent from the login processing section 72 to the userterminal 2, and the control section 25 displays the confirmationinformation sent from the image processing apparatus 3 on the displaysection 23. In this case, the control panel 20 of the image processingapparatus 3 receives the input of the confirmation information.

The image processing apparatus 3 may establish an association betweenthe authentication on the user terminal 2 to be connected with the imageprocessing apparatus 3 and the intention confirmation of the user basedon confirmation information, thereby authenticating the user. Forexample, in this case, the login processing section 72 of the imageprocessing apparatus 3 makes the confirmation information generatedaccording to a terminal ID notified by the connection control section 71in the auxiliary storage device 33 in association with the terminal ID.For example, the login processing section 72 adds the value ofconfirmation information in a setting information record to establish anassociation between a terminal ID and the confirmation information. Thecontrol section 25 of the user terminal 2 sends response informationcontaining the terminal ID of the user terminal 2 to the imageprocessing apparatus 3. If the received response information isidentical to the confirmation information corresponding to the terminalID of the sending source, the login processing section 72 carries out alogin processing for the user of the terminal. By authenticating theuser in this way, the image processing apparatus 3 authenticate the userthereof more reliable.

The image processing apparatus 3 may also comprise a registrationsection (not shown) which registers an authentication-failed userterminal 2 in the image processing apparatus 3 if the user terminal 2requesting a connection with the image processing apparatus fails inauthentication. For example, in this case, the connection controlsection 71 outputs a notice to prompt the user of theauthentication-failed user terminal 2 to register the user terminal 2.Moreover, the registration section adds the identification informationof the user terminal 2 of the user in the registration informationaccording to the response of the user to the notice which is output toprompt the user to register the user terminal 2. Provided with theregistration section, the image processing apparatus 3 is moreconvenient to the user.

According to at least one of the foregoing embodiments, an image formingapparatus can be provided which comprises a wireless communicationsection configured to wirelessly communicate with a terminal device ofthe user, a terminal authentication section configured to authenticatethe terminal device requesting a connection with the image formingapparatus; and a login processing section configured to process thelogin of the user according to the authentication on the terminal deviceand which is capable of relieving the workload of the user while notincreased in cost.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended tocover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: awireless communication section configured to wirelessly communicate witha terminal device; a storage configured to store registrationinformation and setting information in advance, the registrationinformation indicating terminal devices permitted to connect to theimage processing apparatus, the setting information being used for alogin processing of a user of the terminal device which request aconnection with the image forming apparatus to the image formingapparatus; a terminal authentication section configured to permit theterminal device to connect to the image forming apparatus ifidentification information indicating the terminal device requesting theconnection is already registered in the registration information; and alogin processing section configured to carry out the login processing,wherein the login processing section generates confirmation informationfor confirming the user's intention of a login to the image formingapparatus and displays the confirmation information; and the loginprocessing section carries out the login processing for the userassociated with the terminal device if a response information indicatingthe confirmation information is received from the terminal device duringa specific period.
 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the confirmation information is valid in the specific period ofvalidity; and the login processing section carries out the loginprocessing for the user if the response information is received duringthe specific period of validity according to the display of theconfirmation information.
 3. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the login processing section displays an informationthat notifies the user that the response information has not beenreceived during the specific period of validity if the responseinformation is not received during the specific period of validity. 4.The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the loginprocessing section carries out the login processing corresponding to oneor more of the terminal devices which are capable of wirelesslycommunicating with the image forming apparatus which sends radio wavewith an intensity higher than a specific threshold value.
 5. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the login processingsection carries out the login processing corresponding to one or more ofthe terminal devices which are capable of wirelessly communicating withthe image forming apparatus which is strongest in radio wave intensity.6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the loginprocessing section carries out the login processing corresponding to oneor more of the terminal devices which are capable of wirelesslycommunicating with the image forming apparatus which sends radio wavewith an intensity higher than a specific threshold value for more than aspecific time.
 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the storage stores the setting information of each user; and thelogin processing section reads out the setting information of the userfor whom the login processing will be carried out.
 8. An authenticationmethod performed by an image forming apparatus which comprises awireless communication section configured to wirelessly communicate witha terminal device and a storage configured to store registrationinformation and setting information in advance, the registrationinformation indicating terminal devices permitted to connect to theimage processing apparatus, the setting information being used for alogin processing of a user of the terminal device which request aconnection with the image forming apparatus to the image formingapparatus, comprising: permitting the terminal device to connect to theimage forming apparatus if identification information indicating theterminal device requesting the connection is already registered in theregistration information; generating confirmation information forconfirming the user's intention of a login to the image formingapparatus and displays the confirmation information; and carrying outthe login processing for the user associated with the terminal device ifa response information indicating the confirmation information isreceived from the terminal device during a specific period.